This isn't America you know...

[Redbeard]

Bravo, good sir!
when the wife and I can take some time to travel abroad we plan on
A. Knowing enough of the local language to ask politely for assistance
B. Try the local damn cuisine
C. NOT be your stereotypical ugly American

[MoonCat]

I always hate hearing about Americans acting like idiots abroad. I know there are SC's everywhere, but it seems it's only Americans who "demand their rights." Why some of us think American laws/rights/privileges apply in other countries, I simply don't know.

Personally, I love the UK and would love to go back. It's been a very long time since I was there but I enjoyed every minute of it (including getting lost wandering around Oxford )

[rageaholic]

I don't think either of these customers knew what they were talking about. Private businesses have rules like that here in America too.

[Sapphire Silk]

I hate it when people think "being an American citizen" is a get out of jail free card, or entitled to act like an ass card. Makes the rest of us, the majority of whom are decent folks, look bad.

[Mr Hero]

Blah! I'm reading the topic title and it's close enough that I can't get the John Cougar Mellencamp song out of my head.

[Jay 2K Winger]

This is right up there with this classic exchange:

Would-be Patron at The Bar: "In New York, they <entitlement-encouraging action>."
Jester: "Welcome to Florida."

[Moirae]

lol. Just because he's American doesn't mean he has the right to take the sweets into the bathroom in the US either.

Seems the teacher can't do basic math. Useful teacher. Must be a very different country then, in Canada and the US, high school starts at age 15 (grade 10).

[gremcint]

you know if I ever have a customer try that I know my rights stuff I'm going to ask them to name them.

[AccountingDrone]

Sadly, this is true. And is shouting "I'M A CITIZEN OF [any random country]" supposed to impress somebody? Yeah, you and several million other people (depending on the size of the country, LOL) -- so what?

I have done a fair amount of traveling, and know a fair selection of people. Pretty much every country has its strong points, and its weak points. I know a Russian who loves his country just as much as I love mine - and we both grew up during the height of the Cold War.

[I will admit a certain fondness for Germany and Holland because of the people I know and met there.]

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

It's funny how a lot of Americans (in particular conservatives) decry England and the UK for having so many rules and regulations and enforcing them strictly.

[mharbourgirl]

Must be a very different country then, in Canada and the US, high school starts at age 15 (grade 10).

Well, that depends on what part of Canada you're from. I grew up on the west coast, and Elementary school is K-7. There are Junior (8-10) and Senior (11-12) High Schools here and there, but there's a lot of 'Secondary' schools, which I went to, and they're 8-12. So I personally started high school when I was 13.

[MoonCat]

Actually, when most people say they "know their rights" they really don't know squat. Look at all the people who think "the customer is always right" has been enshrined into law. Not to mention all the other stories on this site about customer claiming something is illegal when it's really not.

[Pixilated]

Oh hey, we don't. Every country has it's good people and its idiots. Case in point: I'm Canadian - have you seen our current Prime Minister? He's a tool. Not my fault. I personally think your family sounds like excellent neighbours, if only because the likelihood of BBQs increases dramatically in the presence of Texans. I do love me some good BBQ.

And a malfunctioning one at that!

Bravo, good sir!
when the wife and I can take some time to travel abroad we plan on
A. Knowing enough of the local language to ask politely for assistance
B. Try the local damn cuisine
C. NOT be your stereotypical ugly American

Yep, yep and "not to be your stereotypical idiot tourist," definitely, yep! Although when my brother and sister and I were in Eastern Europe, dangit, I just couldn't get either one of them to share the snake dish on the menu with me ...

I don't think either of these customers knew what they were talking about. Private businesses have rules like that here in America too.

Yep but they'd be SCs in America too. They just wouldn't be yelling, "I'm an American citizen!" (Or maybe they would, but it would be followed immediately by "... and I know my rights!")

This is right up there with this classic exchange:

Would-be Patron at The Bar: "In New York, they <entitlement-encouraging action>."
Jester: "Welcome to Florida."

GREAT comeback!

[Jay 2K Winger]

GREAT comeback!

I've used a variant myself when I worked at the wholesale club.

Them: "At <Rival Store>, they <do X>."
J2K: "Welcome to <Our Store>."

[fireheart]

There are SC's Down Under too

And I'll do the education AND the movie rating systems here:

Education:

Primary: R/K-5 (either called Reception or Kindergarten depending on state, the states that have reception will have preschools that are sometimes known as "kindies" or kindergartens)
Secondary: 8-12.

Some R-12 schools will go with a primary/middle/senior schooling system, which is usually R-5, 6-9, 10-12.

Our movie rating system is similar to the US one, with a slight difference. As gerund pointed out, R18+ is as it sounds: NOBODY under 18 can see that film.

G: All-ages.
PG: Parental Guidance.
M: Mature audience.
MA15+: If you're under 15, you can see the film with someone who is 18 or older.
R18+: already explained.

The M rating is somewhere between the PG and MA ratings. The last 3-4 Harry Potter films all got M ratings as an example.